'Korea's Elvis Presley' Cha Jung-rak Returns

On the 9th at Yongma Waterfall Park in Jungnang-gu, the musical play 'Cha Jung-rak Gayoje' will be performed
Featuring a singing contest format with hit songs like 'Love Gone with the Fallen Leaves'
Musician nephew Cha Seung-woo will perform his uncle's signature songs live on stage
A mini documentary by director Baek Jae-ho, who directed 'Citizen Roh Moo-hyun', will also be screened

Singer Cha Jung-rak.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] “When the leaves fall, why didn’t I know that dreams follow them / What can I do with this heart that loves you, what can I do / Our love’s dream has gone away following the fallen leaves.”

Every autumn, singer Cha Jung-rak, who sang the timeless classic “Love Gone with the Fallen Leaves” that touches many hearts, returns through a delightful musical play, documentary, and performance.

The musical play “Cha Jung-rak Gayoje,” held on the 9th at Yongma Waterfall Park in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, is a singing contest-style performance featuring his representative songs such as “Love Gone with the Fallen Leaves,” “Like a Star, Like the Moon,” “Come Back, Love,” and “You Have Gone.”

A special stage has also been prepared. Cha Seung-woo, Cha Jung-rak’s nephew and a musician who has performed with Nobrain and Moonshiners, will personally sing his uncle’s signature songs. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 5th, Cha Seung-woo said, “As a bandman who has lived for over 20 years, my uncle is not only family but also a respected senior and contributor who made Korean rock and roll possible,” adding, “Following my uncle, my father (Cha Jung-kwang) also debuted as a singer and was involved in music until he passed away, so my ears were naturally opened to music, and that environment naturally led me to music.”

Musician Cha Seung-woo (right in the photo), who will perform alongside the musical play 'Cha Jung-rak Gayoje,' and director Baek Jae-ho, who directed the mini-documentary. Photo by Kim Hee-yoon

The stages that disappeared due to COVID-19 brought great loss to musicians. Declaring a musical “hiatus” himself, Cha Seung-woo had put down his guitar and was living as an office worker. This stage is a kind of comeback for him, called upon by his uncle. Hunjo, the vocalist of his last band “Monotones,” newly formed “Atom Music Heart” and will be a strong supporter on stage.

He said, “Although I was away from music for a while, I never doubted that music is my destiny,” and added, “I plan to form a new band and start activities with this performance as a turning point.” Picking up the guitar again “with less pressure,” he added, “I plan to showcase new music soon with musicians in their 20s who contacted me through Instagram DMs.”

Their rehearsal process is also captured in a documentary that will be screened alongside the performance. Director Baek Jae-ho, who directed the film “Citizen Roh Moo-hyun,” handled the camera. Director Baek explained the work, saying, “This documentary sheds light on who Cha Jung-rak is through interviews with his nephew Cha Seung-woo, Mr. Yoon Hang-gi who performed with him in Key Boys, and his younger brother and musician Cha Jung-yong. Especially, it vividly conveys to the audience the atmosphere of the Korean music scene at the time and Cha Jung-rak’s activities with the band ‘Key Boys,’ known as the pioneers of Korean rock.”

The “Cha Jung-rak Gayoje,” where you can experience the musical play, documentary, and performance all in one place, will be held at 7 p.m. on September 9 at Yongma Waterfall Park in Jungnang-gu, Seoul.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.